Selective Nerve Root Block

A selective nerve root block is a procedure that is used diagnostically to identify whether a spinal nerve is the generator of pain. Additionally, coincident injections of corticosteroid along with the local anesthetic block can be therapeutic and relieve pain.

What can I expect at the Pain Center?

A Pain Management Specialist at the clinic will assess your pain condition, take a medical history, and examine you to see if the procedure is a potentially beneficial option. At this time any precautions that need to be taken based on the status of your health may be discussed. Additional or alternative treatment options can be discussed. After this examination, the procedure can then be scheduled.

What should I do before the procedure?

Do not eat or drink non-clear liquids 6-8 hours prior to your procedure. You may drink a small amount (a few ounces) of clear liquid (water) up to 2-3 hours before your procedure. Take your routine medications the day of your procedure as you normally would with a small amount of water, unless instructed otherwise by the physician. If you take pain medications, do not take a dose 2 hours prior to your procedure time, unless otherwise instructed by the physician. If you take blood thinners (such as Coumadin), or you are a diabetic, you will need to follow special directions which the physician will give you prior to the procedure. It is mandatory that you arrange for someone to drive you home from the ambulatory surgical center after your procedure. Additional instructions may be given by the physician if necessary depending on your health status.

Where will the procedure be done?

In the ambulatory surgical center as an outpatient.

Will I be asleep for the procedure?

Monitored anesthesia care with light sedation may be medically indicated, based upon your health status, or to reduce unintentional movement during the procedure. Your physician will discuss this with you at the time of your appointment.

When will I have some relief of pain?

You may receive immediate pain relief after the procedure. If a patient receives partial improvement, then repeat injections may be indicated.

Will I be able to drive afterward?

No, do not operate motorized vehicles/equipment (ie cars, lawn mowers, power tools, kitchen appliances, etc) until the day after your procedure, especially if you have received sedation.

Will I be able to resume my normal activities after the procedure?

Yes, the next day. Just maintain good body mechanics and posture and continue with physical therapy or your home exercise program.

What are the risks of the procedure?

A full discussion of the risks of the procedure will occur when you meet the Pain Specialist who will perform the injection. Overall, the risks are relatively low.

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The use of nerve blocks has also been criticised because of the lack of appropriate double-blind, randomised controlled trials. However, it must be appreciated that these are hard to carry out for non drug treatments, and in such a disparate group of patients as for instance those with low back pain and neurogenic pain. However, it is clear that trials are now being carried out and can show the efficacy of various treatments. On the whole I veer away from permanent lesions for patients with chronic non-malignant pain.

Facet joint denervations have been shown by Lord, Barnsley and Bogduk to be effective for both low back pain and neck pain resulting from whiplash injuries.

Efficacy and safety of epidural steroids have been investigated extensively and recent randomised controlled trials appear to show benefit for their use in limb pain and also in acute back pain or neck pain. It is essential for an appropriate dose to be used and for careful placement of the drug in the correct compartment. I would suggest the use of epidurography at least and the new technique of epiduroscopy is interesting, although as yet completely unproven.

It is understandable and tempting to think of a painful disc as the cause of a significant number of certain patients’ symptoms, and the new technique of disc denervation is another therapy under review at present.

Pulsed radiofrequency has been recommended by Dutch authors, but as yet I fail to see the rationale or the scientific evidence which would lead me to embrace this technique. At least it appears to be side-effect free, although it is a potentially expensive treatment, especially if it is only a placebo!

The use of Botulinum Toxin for muscle spasm is also under investigation at the present time. Clearly the agent has a powerful muscle relaxant effect, which is present from two to six months. Also it appears a relatively safe drug. However a great deal of work needs to be done now to identify the appropriate patients for treatment with this fairly extensive compound.

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2 thoughts on “Selective Nerve Root Block”

I HAD A COMPLETE REVERSE SHOULDER REPLACEMENT 4 YEARS AGO. I HAVE NEVER BEEN OUT OF PAIN IN MY RIGHT ARM SINCE. I HAVE BEEN TO VERY MANY DOCTORS, THEY ALL TAKE XRAYS & SAY EVERYTHING IS FINE. HARDWARE IS IN PLACE. NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT TO DO FOR THIS PAIN. THE LAST ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON NOW WANTS ME TO HAVE A CERVICAL EPEDEREL ON THE 1ST OF SEPT. I AM WRITING TO YOU AS I AM VERY SCARED TO DO THIS. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR IN PUT, TO SEE WHAT IS YOUR OPION IF IF SHOULD HAVE ONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH! KARLENE HICKEY